Causes and Symptoms                                                                     

 

Transmission

HCV is contagious and is mainly a blood- borne virus.

 

Sharing of contaminated needles amongst drug users is the most common method of transmission. Blood or blood product transfusions and transplantations were also once risk factors but have rapidly decreased as a result of rigorous screening processes. 

 

Other methods of transmission, although less common include:

  • From mother to infant at the time of childbirth

  • Through sexual intercourse with an infected partner

  • Needle sticks with HCV- contaminated blood (usually a risk factor for health care workers)

  

The risk of mother to infant transmission of HCV is increased dramatically if the mother is co- infected with HIV possibly as a result of immunosupression.

Unknown sources of transmission are associated with low socioeconomic levels.

The risk of developing HCV is much higher in developing countries due to contamination and inadequately sterilised equipment.

 

 

Figure 3.2

World prevelance map of the hepatitis C virus. It shows that the highest concentration of the infection are in the sub- Saharan countries.

 High Risk Groups

  • Recipients of previously unscreened blood, blood products and organs (before 1992)

  • Patients and employees in haemodialysis centres

  • Haemophiliacs

  • Injecting drug users sharing contaminated materials

  • People exposed to unsterile medical or dental equipment

  • People administering or receiving acupuncture or tattooing

  • Health care workers

  • Infants born to infected mothers

     

Symptoms

Hepatitis C (HCV) is one of the main causes of cirrhosis and HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma).

HCV- related end stage liver disease is the main reason for liver transplantation in the USA. 

 

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